Foldable, tree-like structure for hanging plants

ABSTRACT

The structure is tree-like, having a tubular cruciform base, a vertical section and a plurality of tiers of limb-like structure, comprising a top tier, a bottom tier and at least one intermediate tier. The basic structure comprises one straight vertical tube and four bent tubular elements. The four elements each have a horizontal portion which is part of the cruciform base, a vertical portion which is part of the vertical section and an arched top which is part of the top tier of limb-like structures. The tubular elements are integrated by spacers and clamps. The clamps also retain tubular sockets which hold the tubular limb-like structures of the bottom and intermediate tiers. A swivelled snap hook is attached to the free end of each limb-like structure to support a hanging plant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The subject invention is in the field of structure for supportingclothes, displays, plants and the like, particularly foldable structure.More particularly it is in the field of such structure for supporting aplurality of potted plants. Still more particularly it is in the fieldof such structure which resembles a tree, having a trunk and limbs.

2. Prior Art

The patents listed below comprise the patented prior art known to theinventor.

    ______________________________________                                        *1,073,763              3,708,144                                              1,357,250              3,786,766                                             *1,243,173              3,908,564                                             *1,794,076              3,955,787                                                            4,582,282                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The asterisked patents are considered to be the known patented prior artclosest to the subject invention, all showing structures resemblingtrees in that they have elements representing trunks and limbs and inthat two of the structures are collapsible to a degree. However, noneare particularly adapted to support hanging plants as well as beingfoldable into a flat configuration involving no loose parts.Accordingly, the prime objective of the subject invention is to providea tree-like structure for supporting hanging plants. A second objectiveis that the structure be foldable into a flat configuration forconvenience and cost savings in shipping and storage. A third objectiveis that there be no loose parts involved in the folding and unfolding,this feature facilitating the folding and unfolding as well as theshipping and storage. The tree-like configuration is consideredimportant for aesthetic reasons.

A fourth objective is that the structure be easily manufactured fromcommercially available material and parts with a minimum requirement forspecially made parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject structure comprises a four legged base, a vertical portionsimulating a trunk of a tree and a plurality of limb-like componentsarranged in a plurality of tiers spaced along the vertical portion. Thelimb-like components are arched so that their free ends to which theplants are attached point essentially downward.

The vertical structure comprises five tubular components held in thedesired special relationship to each other by a plurality of spacers anda plurality of commercially available hose clamps. Considering the standerected for purposes of description, four of the five tubular elementscomprise a horizontal segment, a vertical segment and an arched segment.The vertical segments are held equally spaced from each other andparallel to each other by the spacers and clamps. The horizontalsegments extend radially from the bottom of the cluster of verticalsections to form the base of the structure. The arched segment, verticalsegment and horizontal segment in each of the four elements lie in aflat plane and the arched segments comprise the top tier of limb-likestructures extending radially from the top of the cluster of verticalsegments. The arched segments have approximately a 180° arc length. Thefifth tubular component is straight, parallel to the vertical segmentsand is positioned in the center of the cluster of vertical segments,extending through holes in the centers of the spacers.

In a preferred embodiment there are three tiers of limb-like structure,termed limbs for purposes of this disclosure, the top tier, anintermediate tier and the bottom tier. The intermediate tier and bottomtier are structurally similar, the length of the limbs of theintermediate tier being intermediate to the length of the limbs of thetop and bottom tiers, the bottom tier limbs being longest. Each of theintermediate and bottom tiers comprises four tubular sockets restingendwise on a spacer, nested between the four vertical segments and heldin place by the clamps. There is a limb fitting into each socket, eachsuch limb comprising a straight portion and an arched portion, havingapproximately a 180° arc length. The straight portion of each of theselimbs fits snugly but freely into a socket with the arched portionupward and extending radially from the cluster of vertical segments.These socket mounted limbs pivot in the sockets for adjustment of theirradial position.

A commercially available spring clip with a swivel is attached to theend of each limb to accept the wire, handle or the like of hangingplants.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a spacer.

FIG. 3 illustrates a spacer and the relative orientation of the verticalportion of the invention installed in the spacer.

FIG. 4 illustrates the installation of the sockets for the bottom andintermediate tiers of limbs.

FIG. 5 illustrates the limb used in the lower and intermediate tiers.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the stand folded flat for storage orshipment fully assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is a tree-like structure for supporting hangingplants. It has a base, a trunk-like vertical section and a plurality oftiers of limb-like structures termed limbs for purposes of thisdisclosure. The tiers comprise the bottom and top tiers and at least oneintermediate tier. Swivelled snap hooks are attached at the ends of thelimbs to support the plants.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thestructure, the primary elements of the structure are a straight tubularelement 10 and four bent tubular elements 11, 12, 13 and 14, element 14being typical and described in more detail. Element 14 comprises ahorizontal base segment 15, normal to a vertical segment 16, and anarched segment 17, the arched segments of the bent tubular elementsforming the top tier of limbs. The horizontal segments are disposed in acruciform pattern to provide a stable base for the structure. The endsof the straight element and the horizontal segments are covered byelastomeric caps, cap 18 being typical. The tubular elements are heldassembled by spacers 19, 20 and 21 and clamps 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 asdescribed below. The clamps are commercially available hose clamps.

FIG. 2 illustrates a spacer, which is a wafer 27 of material, preferablyplastic, having a hole 28 at its center and 4 notches, notch 29 beingtypical, equally spaced around its periphery 30. The notches aresomewhat more than semi-circular in plan view so that a snap fit of thetubes in the slots is provided. Slot 31 extends radially from hole 28and allows for the spacer to be clamped tightly on element 11 by clampsdescribed below.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the tubular elements in position in spacer19 and held in place by clamp 22, this arrangement being typical for allthe spacers except that the clamps for the bottom tier 32 andintermediate tier 33 of limbs are placed as shown in FIG. 4 whichillustrates the installation of the sockets socket 34 being typical,into which the bottom and intermediate tier limb-like structures areinserted. The bent tubular elements are positioned with their basesegments lying in a plane and in cruciform configuration when thestructure is unfolded and ready to use. Each socket is a length oftubing having a longitudinal axis. The lower ends, end 35 being typical,rest on a spacer. The diameter of the tubes is such that they wedgebetween the vertical sections of the bent tubular elements and such thatclamps 23 and 24, positioned near the ends of the sockets, hold thesockets in place, press the sockets against the bent tubular elementsand press the bent tubular elements against the spacers to cause them toclamp around the straight tubular element to hold the tiers in position.

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred configuration of limb 36 for use in thebottom and intermediate tiers. It is tubular and comprises a straightsocket segment 37 and an arched limb segment 38 having an arc length ofapproximately 180°, this being typical for all the limbs in a preferredembodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates in perspective the structure folded flat for storageor shipment fully assembled.

It is believed understandable from this description that the inventionmeets its objectives. It provides a tree-like structure for hangingplants. The structure is foldable with no disassembly into a flatconfiguration. All of the parts except the spacers are eithercommercially available or made by cutting and bending tubing. The spaceris a simple plastic molding.

It is also considered to be understandable that while one embodiment ofthe invention is described herein, other embodiments and modificationsof the one described within the scope of the subject invention which islimited only by the attached claims.

I claim:
 1. A tree-like structure for supporting hanging plants, saidstructure having a base, a vertical section and a plurality of tiers oflimb-like structures, said plurality comprising a bottom tier, a toptier and at least one intermediate tier, said structure furthercomprising:a plurality of bent tubular elements, each element comprisinga vertical portion having first and second ends and a base portionnormal to said vertical portion at said first end and a limb-likeportion at said second end, said base, vertical and limb-like portionslying in a plane, a straight tubular element, a plurality of spacers,each spacer being a wafer having a center and a periphery and a hole atsaid center and notches equally spaced around said periphery, aplurality of hose clamps, a plurality of sockets, each having alongitudinal axis and first and second ends, a plurality of limb-likestructures, each structure comprising a straight socket segment and alimb-like segment having a free end, a plurality of hooks, said straighttubular element being inserted through said holes in said centers ofsaid spacers said spacers being positioned along said straight tubularelement, said bent tubular elements being installed one each in saidnotches in said peripheries of said spacers with said base portions in aplane and in a cruciform configuration, each of said sockets beinginstalled with said first end on a spacer and said longitudinal axisparallel to said vertical portions, said sockets being wedged againstsaid vertical portions, said hose clamps being installed around saidbent tubular elements and said sockets near said spacers and near saidfirst and second ends of said sockets, said limb-like structures beinginstalled one per each of said sockets with said straight socketsegments in said second ends of said sockets whereby said limb-likesegments form said bottom and intermediate tiers of limb-likestructures, said hooks being attached to said free ends of saidlimb-like segments of said limb-like structures.